NSW Health confirms fifth case of Legionnaire's disease linked to outbreak in Sydney's inner-west

An elderly man has become the fifth person diagnosed with Legionnaire's disease after an outbreak in Sydney's inner-west.

One patient died and three others fell ill with the disease after an outbreak in the suburb of Burwood. 

NSW Health's Acting Chief Health Officer Jeremy McAnulty confirmed the fifth diagnosis today.  

"NSW Health has confirmed a fifth person has been diagnosed with Legionnaires' in Sydney's inner west," Dr McAnulty said.

"The man, in his 80s, is in a stable condition in hospital.

"He reports that he first felt unwell on May 12. During his exposure period, he travelled to multiple places but did not visit the Burwood shopping centre or the Sydney CBD."

Legionnaires' disease is an infection of the lungs, caused when bacteria from the Legionella family are inhaled.

Symptoms include fever, chills, a cough and shortness of breath.

Cooling towers in the Burwood, Concord, and Rhodes areas have been tested for contamination in an effort to identify the source of the outbreak.

The death of a man in his 80s in March was linked to a separate outbreak in the Sydney CBD.

NSW HEALTH'S FULL STATEMENT:  

NSW Health has confirmed a fifth person has been diagnosed with Legionnaires' in Sydney's inner west.

The man, in his 80s, is in a stable condition in hospital.

He reports that he first felt unwell on May 12. During his exposure period, he travelled to multiple places but did not visit the Burwood shopping centre or the Sydney CBD.

The [four cases] of Legionnaires' disease notified last week all reported common exposures around the Burwood shopping area. One of the four died.

Cases of Legionnaires' disease are regularly reported unrelated to outbreaks and the places visited by the most recent case are being carefully reviewed.

Environment health officers have completed taking samples of potential water sources in the Burwood LGA. So far, there have been no positive test results.

Final results will be available at the end of this week.

NSW Health, Sydney Local Health District's Public Health Unit, Burwood and Canada Bay Councils and Health Protection NSW have continued to work closely over the weekend to investigate the outbreak, including interviewing patients and inspecting  potential sources to ensure any ongoing risk is minimised.